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Thread: Building vs. buying an upper?
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26 August 2008, 05:52 #1Member
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Building vs. buying an upper?
I'm trying to plan what to do for an upper to go on the Frankenlower I have in the closet and have a few questions that, if you don't mind answering them, would help me plan some more. I'd like a 16" pipe (so I can fiddle around with flash suppressors before having it chopped/pinned/welded), 1:7, 4150 steel, M4 contour/cuts, standard FSB, flattop so here are my questions:
1) Since I already have the tools (vise block, AR multi-tool, punches, etc...), is there much, or any, cost advantage to building an upper vs. buying one assembled? I'm not looking at a rare/unique upper combo so it's not as if I want something that just isn't built in any factory.
2) I'm fairly handy and enjoy tinkering/mechanical bits so given that, is building an upper really all that hard (I've done a lower already) or is it pretty easy so long as you take your time?
3) Headspacing--how does one ensure a separate barrel/bolt/upper combo headspace properly? I don't have a set of Go/NoGo gauges yet but will get them before I would think of assembling an upper--they'll be on my next Brownell's order.
4) If I get an upper w/o M4 feedramp cuts, is it OK to Dremel the ramps open or would that jack up the anodizing hardcoat?
5) Are there any books/DVD's you would recommend getting to have on hand before I start on this project (if I build an upper at all)?Last edited by jvencius; 26 August 2008 at 06:34.
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26 August 2008, 14:36 #2Member
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My answer is at the Armory. I'm sure you'll get more expert opinions than mine here.
TS
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26 August 2008, 20:46 #3
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26 August 2008, 21:17 #4
I've hacked up an upper to put in M4 feedramps, and yes, you cut away the hardened surface of the anodizing. Its worth getting the right parts the first time.
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27 August 2008, 14:42 #5
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27 August 2008, 21:38 #6
For proper head spacing, you will need a Go & NO Go gauges. You can run an upper without M4 feed ramps with a barrel with M4 cuts without issue. You can dremel in the feed ramps but why?? They will work fine without them.
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30 August 2008, 12:44 #7Member
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The more I try to calculate parts costs, the more I figure buying an upper pre-built (and has something of a warranty) makes sense. Based on cost alone, for the parts I'm looking at I'd be out ~ $700 for the uppper (the Vltor CASV-EL is 1/3 of that) and I can buy an upper already assembled for the same money. I have most of the tools, so the sunk cost for them really isn't a concern, but it would be nice to open a box, pin the upper on my assembled lower, and head to the range vs. having to spend who-knows-how-much time fiddling with assembly when I'm not positive what I'm doing.